Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 37, [20] p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-37).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 153 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-135).

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The effects of swirl and spark location on combustion duration were studied in a constant volume cylindrical chamber of length-to-diameter ratio of 0.5. A chemically balanced methane-air mixture was swirled up to 628 radians per second by tangential injection. The chamber was closed by a valve before ignition by a spark gap of variable location and electrode geometry. The burning duration, indicated by repeated measurements of combustion pressure rise, was found to be a strong function of swirl intensity and spark location. Increased swirl resulted in decreased burning duration; mid-radius ignition location combined with high swirl resulted in the shortest combustion durations. Spark gap was found to have an important effect on the standard deviation of the burning duration, especially with high swirl. Various "flame holders" were installed to achieve shorter burning durations and lower cyclic variation. Results indicated that the best ignition source geometry was an unshielded, low-drag probe. This gave the least burning durations and the least cyclic variation at the higher swirl values. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Mechanical Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Elimination or reduction of auxiliary oxygen use in Pulse Detonation Engines (PDEs) is necessary if the technology is to compete with existing Ramjet systems. This thesis investigated a Transient Plasma Ignition (TPI) system and found that the technology can at least reduce and may be able to completely remove the auxiliary oxygen requirement of current PDE systems. TPI was tested and compared with a traditional capacitive discharge spark plug system in a dynamic flow, ethylene/air mixture combustor. Ignition delay time, Deflagration-to-Detonation transition (DDT) distance and time, detonation wave speed and fire success rate performance were analyzed for various mass flow rates and stoichiometric ratios. A transient plasma dualelectrode concept was also employed and analyzed. Results show that TPI is more effective and reliable than the spark plug ignition with considerable improvements to DDT performance. The TPI dual-electrode concept was proven to be the most effective configuration with average reductions in DDT distance and time of 17% and 41% respectively when compared to the capacitive discharge spark plug system configuration.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Internal combustion engine emissions are currently a major source of air pollution. The harmful impact of engine emissions can be reduced when engines are fuelled by alternatives to petrol and diesel such as natural gas. The use of lean burn technology in spark-ignition engines has been dominant; however, the lean burn technique can not economically satisfy the increasingly restricted future emission standards particularly for NOx emissions. In this thesis, the use of the stoichiometric air-fuel mixture with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technique in a spark ignition natural gas engine is investigated. The aim of the research is to optimize the key engine operating conditions in order to obtain the lowest NO emissions accompanied with low fuel consumption and high power. This is achieved via both experimental and computer simulation research. / PhD Doctorate

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2006. / "August, 2006." Includes bibliographical references. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Rolla, 1982. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed ) Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-58).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Ronald Matthews. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available from UMI.